Launched to coincide with the charity’s 2019 Back to School Appeal, the survey of more than 1000 Australians also found an overwhelming majority (84 per cent) do not want to see children missing out on educational opportunities because their family can’t afford it; while 76 per cent of respondents said children in struggling families should be given extra assistance for uniforms, books and excursions to ensure they aren’t disadvantaged at school.

“The new year can be a stressful time for low-income families. With children starting back at school, the costs can really add up,” The Smith Family CEO Dr Lisa O’Brien said.

“No parent wants their child to start the school year feeling isolated from their peers because they don’t have a decent uniform, school bag or shoes. They don’t want their kids feeling left out from school activities because they can’t afford sport or excursions.”

Dr O’Brien said the deepening ‘digital divide’ in Australia is compounding the challenges for students whose families can’t afford the technology they need for school.

“These days, parents also have to factor in the costs of technology for their children’s education – things like laptops and internet access. For many families these can be quite unaffordable,” she said.

“We know, for example, that nearly a third of the students on our sponsorship program don’t have a computer at home that’s connected to the internet.”

Dr O’Brien also pointed to the latest figures which show that there are 1.1 million young Australians under the age of 24 who are living below the poverty line.

“People don’t see the ‘hidden’ poverty that exists behind closed doors and in our classrooms, which can see children and families dealing with extraordinary challenges just to get through each day.”

The Smith Family is asking the community to consider sponsoring an Australian child in need to help with the cost of school essentials and out-of-school learning support.

Visit thesmithfamily.com.au/sponsor to help.